Bye Bye Birdie

We’re following up on an earlier program on this week’s Dress Circle (6/21 7:00 p.m.) with a program we’ve titled “Songs of Inspiration, Determination, and Hope. The previous program was in April which has been dubbed the “Month of Hope,” and that program contained an entirely different playlist of songs with “hope” in the title. This time, the songs offer inspiration and hope for characters and listeners, as well as show determination to overcome adversity. We believe that these are things that are truly needed just now.

We’re remembering the career of songwriter Charles Strouse on this week’s Dress Circle (7/27 7:00 p.m.) through songs from his stage and screen career. Strouse is probably best known for his work with Lee Adams with whom he penned some of his most successful shows including “Bye Bye Birdie,” “Applause,” and “Golden Boy” although his longest-running musical, “Annie,” was written with Martin Charnin.

We lost Chita Rivera in January of last year, and with her death, we've lost one of the last bright lights from the Golden Age of the Broadway musical. This is the first of two programs looking at her six decade long career with songs from as many musicals as we have on recording.